Catholics in Normandy commemorated the 100th anniversary of St Thérèse’s of Lisieux’s canonisation with three days of solemn celebrations on May 16-18. Source: OSV News.
These included a live broadcast of Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration Mass on giant screens in the Basilica of St Thérèse in Lisieux.
The famed French saint, affectionately known by devotees as “The Little Flower,” born Thérèse Martin, died of tuberculosis in 1897 at age 24, after nine years of religious life at the Carmelite convent in Lisieux.
She quickly became the object of astonishing devotion, far beyond the borders of France. Beatified in 1923, she was canonised in Rome in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, who proclaimed her patroness of missions in 1927.
In 1997, one hundred years after her death, St Pope John Paul II declared her a doctor of the church.
Fr Emmanuel Schwab, since 2023 rector of the Sanctuary of St Thérèse of Lisieux, oversaw the organisation of the festivities.
“They were designed to be widely open to an audience unfamiliar with the church,” he said. “The entire city got involved, and activities were planned to appeal to everyone, regardless of their age, level of faith or religious practice.”
On Friday, a procession carrying the relics of St Thérèse on a horse-drawn cart travelled through the streets of Lisieux, followed by several hundred people.
“We took (the relics) out of the Carmelite convent and brought them to St Peter’s Cathedral, where Thérèse used to go to Mass with her family,” Fr Schwab explained.
The procession then made its way to the sanctuary’s basilica, where pilgrims participated in a vigil of prayer late into the evening.
On Saturday, St Thérèse’s reliquary was displayed on the esplanade of the basilica and Bishop Jacques Habert of Bayeux-Lisieux presided over the solemn anniversary Mass.
Throughout the weekend, visitors, pilgrims and curious onlookers participated in activities related to the life and spirituality of St Thérèse.
They were able to make a jubilee pilgrimage and go to confession, but also take part in treasure hunts for children, guided tours of the wax museum, and help build a large structure out of Lego-style building bricks.
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Lisieux celebrates 100 years since the canonisation of ‘The Little Flower’ (By Caroline de Sury, OSV News)
